Acetylene-gas generator.



Patemejdvsuly 22,1902.

No. 705,212.'l

l..v MONTEL. ,A'cE'TYLENE GAS GENERATM.

(Applcgtiou tiled Oct. 5, 1900.)

2 Sheets-'Sheet AI.

(lo Model.)

Shown/to@ ozyw l/ im T13 2f d, j

7 L; in

@Vita/www .--.Np-.*705,272'. Patented 1 u|y 22, 19nz.

L. MONTEL. AGETYLENE GAs'sENEnAroR.

(Appl'ication med oct. b, i900.)

2 sheen-sheet le.

',(Nq' Model.)

' UNITED STATES `PATENT OFFICE.

LEO MONTEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AOETYVONE MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N; Y., sEY, A CORPORATION oF NEW JERSEY.

AND JERSEY CITY, NEW .IER-

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,272, dated July 22, 1902.

Application filed October 5, 1900. Serial No. 32,063. (No model.)

To all whom, it may-concern,.-

Beit known that I, LEO MONTEL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements inAcetylene-GasGenerators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

1o Thisinvention relates to acetylene-gas generators, and has for its object to improve the construction of generators of the class referredto and particularly to produce a generator of this class which shall be well adapted for use in portable lamps, such as tablelamps, bicycle-lamps, dro.v

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in order that the nature of the invention may be yclearly explained, as 2o embodied in a table-lamp, and some of the features of the invention are particularly vdesigned for use in such a lamp.; but it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to its application to such a lamp nor to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described herein.

In said drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of the lamp chosen for illustration of the invention. Fig. 2is a horizontal 3o section of the grate and the scratcher. Fig. 3 is a detailed View in elevation of the lifting device. Fig. 4: is a detailed view of the carbid-holder, showing the disposition of the scratcher. Fig. 5 is a partial side view of the upper portion of the lamp with the outer wall broken away, showing particularly the washing device thereof. Fig. 6 is a viewillustrating a modification in the construction of the generating-chamber. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail 4o sectional views showing the cock f3 of Fig. 6

in its open and closed positions.

In the lamp shown in the drawings the body A may be of sufficient size and of suitable shape to constitute both the container,

which receives the main body-of water, and

the reservoir, into which the watermay beforced when it is displaced by accumulation of gas within the generating-chamber..

Loosely supported by the body A and closing the mouth thereof is a shellB, .within 5o which a tube Cl is securedbymeans of suitable diaphragme Thesediaphragms divide the intervening space to form a gasgenerating and collecting chamber D in the lower portion, a pressure-equalizing chamber Ein the upper portion, kand agas-washing chamber F between the other two chambers.v `The burner, which may be of any suitable character, may be applied directly to the pressureequalizing chamber E.

The improved generator is particularly designed for using calcium carbid in sticks prepared in some such manner as set forthin Letters Patent of the United States Nos.

648,349'and 648,350, dated April 24, 1900, and 65 while some features of the invention have particular reference to the use of the carbid in such form nevertheless theV invention is not' restricted, as to such features as are capable of general application, to the use of carbid in 7o any particular form. In the generator represented in the drawings a container G is provided for the carbid, such container consisting Of a metal shell or tube open at the top to receive the stick of carbid and adapted to be inserted into the tube C when the shell B is removed from the body A. Just below the lower eind of the tube G andsuspended therefrom by strips or projections o is a grating f preferably composed of concentric rings, Fig. 8o

2, fastened together by a bar a, and said grating being provided with teeth g' to support the stick of carbid and to hold it from rotation in the container,'for a reason to be referred to hereinafter. Below said grating and 8 5 likewise secured by said strips or projections is a conical head g2, which is slightly larger in diameter than the tube, so as to close the lower end of the tube C when the container isinserted therein and pressed upward. The head g2 9o is preferably conical, so that the lime which falls from the calcium carbid after the action Of water thereon shall, when the container is raised to remove the calcium carbid from contact with the water, lodge on theconicalhead near its periphery,and sorseal the joint against the passage of moisture into Ythe .container vuntil it is desired to have the generation of gas renewed once more. In order that the container may be properly guided into place and held from rotation with respect to the shell B, for areason to be stated hereinafter, it may be provided with a lug g3 to engage an offset g4 in the wallv of the tube C, and` the head g2 is provided with aprojection or tongue g5 to close the lower open end of such offset when the container is lifted to its highest position. the head g2 with a collar or ring g, secured by or made integral with the strips or projections o to cooperate with the lifter hereinafter described, such collar being slotted or notched, as at g?, to prevent accidental release of the container from the tube C, as hereinafter described.

For the purpose of lowering the carbidinto the water, which partly lls the font or body A, and of raising the carbid out of contact with the water when it is desired to discontinue the generation of gas, a lifter H, preferably consisting of a wire frame or yoke one end of which is adapted to support the container by contact with the collar or ring g, while the other is hinged or pivoted at one side of the lower end of the shellB at y, and is arranged to be operated for the purpose of raising and lowering the carbid, by means external to the bodyA and shell B. As shown in the drawings, such means comprise a rod h, which engages the lifter H through the medium, preferably, of a swinging bar or supplemental yoke h', the opposite ends of which are pivoted in convolutions in the wire frame H. The rod h slides with a cross fit in a tube h2 and is provided near the upper end witha pin h3, which slides in a vertical slot in the tube 71.2 and is adapted to swing onto a shoulder h4, formed at one side of said slot h3. The swinging bar or yoke h accommodates itself to the movement of the lifter H about its axis, and so prevents binding of the rod h within the tube. The lifter H is preferably provided with inwardlyturned fingers h5, which will engage the notches g7 in the ring or collar (16 and so prevent the container G from falling out of the tube C if the shell B, with its attached parts, should be removed from the body A when the lifteris notlocked in its elevated position. Above the hood which forms the upper wall (in part) of the chamber F in the construction shown is mounted the lever I, which has a cam-slot t', with which the pin z3of the rod his engaged. Vhen the lever I is turned to permit the rod 7L to descend to its lowest position, the pin h3 will stand in one end of the slots t', in which position the parts will be locked by the engagement with pin hfof the tooth t" of the cam-slot. When the lever is turned to raise the rod 7L to its highest position, the pin h3 will be moved over the shoulder h4, and the parts will then be locked in the positions which they occupy. N o jolt or jar will dislodge the parts from either position in which they are locked, and the move- The container is also provided below ment of the parts from such position can he effected only by operation of the lever I.

The gas generated by contact of the carbid with the water rises within the chamber D through the tubef, which is bent over upon itself, so that its mouth opens below the surface of the water in the washing-chamber F. The gas is thus caused to bubble through the water and is Athereby washed sufficiently. From the washing-chamber the gas passes through a tube c into the pressure-equalizing chamber E, and in order to cut off the supply of gas to the pressure-equalizing chamber and thence to the burner simultaneously with the lifting of the carbid from contact with the water a stop-cock e is placed in the tube e and the lever I is secured to the stem of such stop-cock, which thereby forms the pivot of the lever. Vthen the lever is operated to lift the carbid from the water, the stop-cock is simultaneously closed to prevent the passage,

of gas. When the lever is operated to lower the carbid into the water, the stop-cock is simultaneously opened to permit the passage of gas.

When the carbid is used in the form above referred to and disclosed in said Letters Patent No. 645,905, a coating forms on the carbid after it has been wetted and then withdrawn from the water, which retards the chemical action when the carbid is again introduced in the water. Means are provided for removing this coating without requiring the carbid to be withdrawn from the generator. For this purpose there is providedascratcher K, which is rotatably mounted in the head g2 of the carbid-container, having suitable teeth 7c, which pass through the grated bottom of the carbid-container G into contact with the lower end of the stick of carbid, the latter being held from free movement bythe teeth g', above referred to, Fig. 2. The lower end of the stem of the scratoher is provided with a slotted head 7o for engagement with a plate 7a2, which is secured in a vertical position on the bottom of the body A. As described above, the carbid-retainer G is held from rotation with respect to the shell B, so that by rotating the shell B after it has been placed in position in the body A, the slotted head 7c engaging the plate k2, the scratcher will be held to rotation and the carbid be rotated with respect to the scratcher. The coating above referred to is thereby loosened and falls from the carbid.

A blow-off pipe L is placed within the shell B, communicating at its upper end with the chamber E and terminating at its lower end a short distance above the lower edge of the shell B. Should an excess of pressure be developed within the shell B, as by an after generation of gas when the carbid has been lifted from the water and the cock e closed, the gas will escape through the pipe L as soon as the water is forced below the lower end of said pipe and will escape from the lamp at IOO IIO

the burner rather than between the hood of the shell B and the mouth of body A. It is a decided advantage to have all of the gas escape from the burner, as there can thenbe no accidental ignition at other parts of the lamp. l

It is obvious that when the shell B and its attached parts are placed/in the body A more or less air will -be trapped in the upper part of the generating-chamber, all of which must escape through the burner before the lamp can be used unless other means are provided for its escape. As shown in the drawings, the washing-chamber F is formed partly within the shell B and partly Within the dome or hood by which the shell B is supported upon the body A. The water in the washing-chamber is contained in the lower portion of the chamber. Accordingly a vent f may be formed in the iloor of the higher part of the washing-chamber, and to the under side of such fiooris secured a ilapvalvef2, preferably of sheet metal, to cover the vent f@ When the shell B is placed in the body A, the valve permits the escape of the entrapped air through the ventf; but when the shell comes to its seat on the mouth of the body A the valve is pressed tightly against the vent and f so prevents the escape of gas when it is generated and passes into the generating-chamber. Suitable lugs b are attached to the under side of the overhang of the dome or hood of the shell B to enter notches d in the overhanging lip d of the body A and by engagement with such' lip, when the shell B is rotated partly, serve'to hold the shell B iirnily to its seat.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the lower portion of the shell B, linstead of being continuous, is formed in two parts, so that the generatingchamber B may be completely submerged in water. F urthermore,the space Z between the top of the generating-chamber and the bottom of the Washing-chamber receives the water which is displaced by the gas in the generating-chamber, so that there is less change in the height or head of the water, and consequently greater uniformity of pressure and of action. In this construction that portion of the shell B which forms the generating-chamber is secured to the upper portion by the tube h2 and a tube d,which delivers the gas from the generating-chamber to the washing-chamber. In this construction also a cock f3 is provided to permit the escape of the entrapped air as the shell B is being lowered into place. The stem of this cock is provided with an arm f4 and a weight f5. While the shell- B is above its position of rest, the weight f5 keeps the cock open, allowing the entrapped air to escape; but as the shell B reaches its position of rest the arm f4 makes contact with a fixed part of the body and closes the cock, the weight f5 being swung slightly outward and upward. The function of this cock is the same as the function of the vent f and valve f2. (Shown in Fig.l.)4 When the shell B is placed on the body A the weight f5 is raised, thereby closing the cock while the lever f4 checks the further movement of the valve by bearing against the Wall of the chamber F.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with the generating-chamber and the carbid-container, of a lifter fork or frame pivoted on the wall of the generating-chamber, a swinging bar secured to the arms of said fork or frame, and a lifting-rod engaging said bar.

2. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a reservoir of a generatingchamber adapted'to'be placed in said reservoir and having a vent to permit the escape of entrapped air, and a valve to controll said vent disposed between cooperating parts of the reservoir and chamber whereby it is pressed against the vent to close the same as the generating-chamber is placed within the reservoir.

3. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a carbid-container, a scratcher for 'the carbid movably mounted in the container, and means secured to the body of the generator to engage said scratcher and hold the same from movement, whereby the carbid may be moved with the container and with respect to the scratcher.

4. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a body, a shell rotatably support-V ed by said body,-a carbid-container held by said shell, a scratcher mounted rotatably in the end of said carbid-container and means secured to the body to engage said scratcher and hold the same from rotation as the shell and carbid-container are rotated.

5. In an acetylene-gas generator, the coinbination of'a reservoir, a tube adapted to'be supported within said reservoir, a carbid-container adapted to be placed within said tube and having a cap or head to close the lower end thereof, and means to raise and lower said container. l

6. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a reservoir, a shell adapted to be supported within said reservoir, a'carbid-container Within said shell and having atv its lower end a ring slotted on its lower edge, and a pivoted lifter for said container having tingers to engage said slotted ring and prevent accidental separation of said container from the shell.

7. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a carbid-container, of a lifter to engage the same, a rod to engage said lifter and having a pin, a tube slotted for the movement of said pin, and having a shoulder to engage ythe same as the rod is turned at the end of its movement, and means to raise and turn said rod.

8. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a carbid-container, a lifter to engage the same, a rod engaging said lifter and having a pin, a guide for said rod, and a IOO IIC

]ever having a cam-slot with a looking projection to engage said pin and operate the rod, said projection engaging with the pin to prevent accidental movement of the rod.

9. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a reservoir, a generating-chamber open at its bottom, a gas-receiving chamber connected with the generating-chamber through a stop-cock, and a blow-off pipe connected to the gas-receiving chamber and terminatin g within the generating-chamber With its end slightly above the lower edge of the generating-chamber, whereby gas generated after the stop-cock is closed is discharged through the blow-off pipe into the gas-receiv- 15 ing chamber and is prevented from escaping through the open bottom of the generatingchamber.

This specification signed and witnessed this 4th day of October, A. D. 1900.

l LEO MONTEL. In presence of- LUCIUS E. VARNEY, A. N. JESBERA. 

